No Brotherly Love Costs Rainworth Dear!!

Rainworth’s game at home to Heanor Town was evenly contested until a bizarre sending off in the 38th minute changed the course of the game.

Although Rainworth fought vainly and did have their chances they gifted Heanor a second when an own goal finished the game as a contest in the 74th minute.

The early exchanges saw Heanor Town on the front foot and an offside flag in the opening minute defused a dangerous situation.

Rainworth probably should have taken the lead in the 8th minute after a great move saw Antonio Wedderburn’s effort smothered by Corey Bowler.

The game ebbed and flowed as Heanor’s Oliver Roome’s effort crashed into the side-netting- whilst at the other end Jacob Webster’s effort was just over.

There was little between the sides until the 32nd minute when only an excellent tackle by Rainworth’s Connor Wright defused the situation.

Rainworth were almost made to pay for static defending which allowed Robert Ritchie-Smith’s effort to go wide for a goal-kick.

As Warren Squires prepared to take the goal-kick the referee went over to Nick Labbate and showed him a red card. Our understanding is that the offence was making a racial comment to his brother, who just happens to also play for Rainworth.

The sending off changed the balance of the game and shortly afterwards Ritchie-Smith put his effort wide when well placed.

Rainworth were forced to make a substitution in the 42nd minute when Alfie Gaughan replaced the injured Tom Gledhill.

With seconds left to play in added time in the first half Heanor took the lead when Daniel Chatfield’s effort hit the back of the net.

There was only time to kick-off before the referee blew for half-time.

Rainworth were soon on the back-foot as the second half began had had Squires to thank as he saved at point-blank range from Roome and with his legs from a Ritchie-Smith effort in quick succession.

Heanor went close again when Roome’s effort in the 63rd minute clipped the crossbar.

Rainworth made substitutions in the 63rd and 70th minutes in a bid to freshen up the battling ten men when Liam Jepson replaced Wedderburn and then Sam Robinson replaced Jack Wetherall.

Rainworth came close to an equaliser in the 72nd minute as Jepson outpaced the Heanor defence, but his shot was wide of the far post.

Any chance Rainworth had of salvaging something from the game ended two minutes later when a misunderstanding between Jacob Lowe and Squires saw Lowe’s back-pass end up in the back of the net for Heanor’s second.

In the final minute there was chances at either end as first Robinson’s goal-bound effort was headed out for a corner and then Squires saved well from Joshua Craddock, as the referee blew for full-time.

With eleven aside it had been an even contest but the bizarre 38th minute sending off made it an uphill battle, but to Rainworth’s credit they battled to the end.